Chapter 4
Edel, who sighed quietly, continued her meal without replying, and Lauren and Daria seemed to have lost their composure without exchanging words.
How much time has passed?
“Lauren Lancaster! Get out!”
Before morning was over, they handed Lauren over to Antis.
Shortly after Lauren left, Daria, who looked visibly worried, also left the prison within an hour.
However, despite this, Idil's name wasn't mentioned for a long time. During this free time, she thought about how she had died.
'It would be nice to get a sharp piece of iron or glass, but it's probably almost impossible. Perhaps jumping out of the wagon is the best way?'
The plan she devised was to jump out of the carriage and crash into another carriage.
'I'm sure he probably lives on a street lined with noble mansions. So, carriages will pass by frequently. If I can secretly open the carriage door, I can jump over it and cross right away.'
If he's lucky, he'll be a noble rider. Even if he's not running fast, startled horses can easily break a rib or two.
An immediate death with a shattered skull would be the best outcome, but knowing that fate had never been on her side, she longed for a swift death. A broken rib piercing her heart would be a merciful end.
'I hope this isn't the fate that awaits me, where I suffer a rib injury from shrapnel and a minor lung injury.'
How long will this death be painful?
Edel tried to bite her cracked nails with her teeth, but she suddenly pulled her hand away. It was a bad habit that surfaced whenever she felt uncomfortable.
Despite being beaten with a stick several times because of this habit, her hand unconsciously went to her lips.
As the sky outside the window gradually turned crimson, the executioner finally appeared.
“Edeal Lancaster! Get out!”
Although her heart seemed to sink, Idell deliberately rose slowly from her seat, lightly smoothing the wrinkles of her torn dress.
Even in death, she vowed never to lose her dignity until the very end. That was the last task she was given.
"Thank you."
Edel nodded slightly in gratitude to the guard who held the door until she left, then followed the guards who came to take her out of the prison.
The western sky was already bearing the sunset.
Heading towards the carriage sent by Count Crisis, Idyll strengthened her resolve.
'Perhaps he should send a male servant. It would be better if he sent a female servant, but…'
If she insists that she cannot ride in the carriage and suggests walking, that is preferable. Riding together might attract the servant's attention. If he continues to glance at her, it will be difficult to exploit any weaknesses.
'In such a case, it is best to engage in light conversation, subtly diverting attention outwards.'
In social circles, it's essential to create a warm atmosphere with someone you've just met. And Idil was always an impeccable conversationalist.
I prayed that if anyone had to come, it would be an indifferent and inexperienced servant.
However, surprisingly, the man waiting outside the northern prison gate was none other than Lord Laszlo Crises himself. His expression was identical to what he had discovered when he found Edel hiding in the warehouse.
“Oh! Did the captain of the guard come in person? You didn’t need to send a servant.”
“I could have brought her when I left the palace. Was there a need to make more people move around unnecessarily?”
Laszlo didn't even glance at Edel. He seemed to find the whole situation simply annoying.
"Come in."
Laszlo pointed to the guard next to him, indicating the carriage.
There was only one vehicle. No other means of transport were in sight.
Idil bit her lip.
'This is unfortunate.'
The idea of riding in the carriage alone with Laszlo was something she had never imagined.
However, she had no other choice.
Edel nodded slightly in gratitude to the guard who was standing next to the carriage, ready to escort her.
“I can go myself. Thank you for your concern.”
"oh well."
Although it was a polite gesture, perhaps to avoid hearing comments about continuing to play the duchess role, the guard kept his head bowed until she got into the carriage.
Laszlo, who had been plagued by questions about Edel all day, found the guard's greeting unpleasant, and a crease formed on his forehead when he greeted Edel.
'All these men seem to be captivated by the woman's face. Tsk.'
Ironically, he found himself upset by the spoils he never wanted in the first place.
But venting his frustration on innocent people would be pointless. Without saying a word, he got into the carriage and gestured for them to leave.
As the carriage began to move, Idil sat down near the door, trying to calm her rapidly beating heart.
'What if I had a conversation?'
What she thought would be a light, easy conversation seemed pointless as her stomach churned. Perhaps the powerful impression of Laszlo's storming of Lancaster Castle was to blame.
Even after he got into the carriage, he continued to stare at her threateningly.
'It seems I don't sit well with him. Well, being a duchess doesn't make me look graceful when he was the commander of the repression force.'
She felt that her hands might tremble if she did not steady them.
Suddenly, Lazlo took off the cloak that was wrapped around his shoulders and threw it into Idil's lap.
Surprised, Idil almost let out a scream.
'Why, why…'
"Stop trembling, don't be so nervous."
Her eyes widened.
'How did he know I was shivering, or rather, did he give me the cloak because I looked cold? Why…?'
Edel was completely unable to decipher his intentions. After throwing the cloak away, Laszlo turned his head away, making it impossible to gauge his expression.
However, Laszlo's cloak, now thrown over her, was surprisingly warm. If she jumped out of the carriage and threw the cloak back at Laszlo, he might catch her and prevent her from escaping.
Edel regained her composure and skillfully checked the lock on the carriage door.
'The simplest kind of lock. Lucky me.'
Given the fragile lock, it seemed as though a slight shake could open it.
Thinking about it, the carriage that Laszlo had brought seemed too small and rather dilapidated to the Count's liking.
It was strange, but she considered it an unimportant detail of her impending death.
Idil took a deep breath, gazing out the window, waiting for the right moment.
Fortunately, Laszlo did not show much interest, but given the narrowness of the carriage, a slight movement could easily attract his attention.
'Please let it work on the first try.'
Praying for death was a grim prospect. However, surviving might be even more terrifying, so she had no choice but to pray.
However, despite it being rush hour, the vehicle did not appear to be passing many people on the road.
'It's the time when everyone should be going home, so there should be lots of buggies...?'
Moreover, this vehicle was moving very slowly.
At that speed, opening the carriage door and jumping out would inevitably result in some scratchy scrapes.
Squeak, squeak.
Although the vehicle made a quiet noise as it moved, and the body did not jostle much, the internal parts felt uncomfortablely jarring.
'At this rate, we'll reach Crisis!'
Idil's heart raced.
However, as if expecting this moment, a double carriage approached from the opposite direction.
Given its relatively fast pace, if it manages to properly detach itself from the vehicle, death seems unlikely to be too difficult.
'If you miss this opportunity, it's over!'
She gritted her teeth and discreetly reached for the carriage lock. The cold metallic touch clung to her fingertips.
'I'm fine. One, two…'
It was as if she was about to count to “three”.
"It would be better not to do that."
Idil froze at the sudden, low, cold sound. She felt as if her mind had gone blank.
"How did he know?"
Surely Laszlo was looking out of the opposite window, wasn't he...?
While Idyll was in a daze, the carriage sped past on the other side, leaving an eerie silence inside their carriage.
What now? He won't just let it go.
Edel swallowed nervously. Laszlo's expression remained unchanged. His indifferent face, which looked bored or annoyed, stayed the same.
However, he undoubtedly noticed what she was trying to do, and just because he was expressionless now does not mean that he was not angry.
Unable to offer any excuses, Idil simply closed her eyes.
My life is getting worse.
Even when she was drowning in despair, the carriage continued to move swiftly, until it reached the estate of Count Crisis.
Laszlo, without any noticeable action, simply opened the door, got out of the carriage first, and uttered a single word rudely.
"alight."
Perhaps the cows being led to the slaughterhouse feel this way.
Edel pulled herself up, but because of the tension she maintained throughout the journey, her legs did not move easily, due to the tension.
Fearing ridicule if she stumbled, she forcibly straightened her stiff leg to step onto the foot of the carriage. At that moment, she had a feeling she would soon fall embarrassingly.